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Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

We need help naming our beautiful baby girl!

68 replies

TwoTimeDaddyo · 27/03/2024 15:21

Hi everyone, we had our little bundle of joy on Saturday and we really hoped that upon seeing her one of our names would jump out at us (they didn't- we both still just like what we like). Any thoughts or opinions would be greatly appreciated!

Just for a little background, baby is mixed race (white British and HK Chinese) and her surname is Ross. It would be nice to have a name that's 'not too white' if that makes sense. She has a big bro named Arlo James so hoping the name will fit in with his too. Here are a list of the names we had in mind including some of the dynamics and politics around them:

  • Isla Maeve (this one is my gf's favourite, I also like it but don't think it fully suits her as it doesn't seem mixed race and it's a bit over popular atm).
  • Mayda (this is my personal favourite, it just needs a nice middle name to go with. I thought Lucy but gf does not like it. Any ideas?)
  • Leila Maeve (she does suit this name and we both like it, however it's my grandma's name and people are constantly mispronouncing it [it's "Lee-luh" but she often gets "lay-luh"] and I don't want a name that people always get wrong [although I can certainly see why they do.])

Other names further down our list include:

  • Ada (why not Mayda, I say)
  • Ida (maybe a bit too severe sounding and short)
  • Josie (maybe a good middle name because its more of a shortened name than a full name in its own right)
  • Jade (my gf thinks this is chavvy)
  • Jodie (gf also thinks this is chavvy)

Let me know your ideas guys, we can't wait to sort her name :)

Ps. I'm also going to add a little poll for mine and my gf top choice, just for fun. Thanks everyone!

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Theoldwoman · 28/03/2024 13:08

Arlo James and:

Freda Kate
Adelaide Mae
Juanita Lee
Asha Jane
Eden Tessa
Indie Grace
Nina Lucille
Dyani Maya
Liza Clare
Yasmin Violet
Dana Joy
Olive Mary
Melia Charlotte
Lillian Isobel

user1492757084 · 28/03/2024 13:34

Arlo James and ..
Ida Josephine
Ida Maeve
Joanna Maeve
Maeve Leila
Lila Magdalen

SuperbOwls · 28/03/2024 13:40

Mayda is a no from me, sorry. My brain immediately turns it into maida vale.

Maeva Josephine?

BigBreaths · 28/03/2024 13:45

Lilah would solve the pronunciation problem.

How about Lilya? Or Liena which is a Chinese name that apparently means "as pretty as the lotus flower"?

MerryChristmasToYou · 28/03/2024 13:55

@BigBreaths , Lilah is Lie-la. OP wants Lee-la.

NotFastButFurious · 28/03/2024 14:15

Isla Ross sounds like a Scottish island!
Ida Ross and Ada Ross are just a bit too short and abrupt.
But I don't like Mayda, it sounds made up my brain is reading it as Mazda.
I like Leila but I would pronounce it Ley-la not Lee-la.
Arlo and Ivy
Arlo and Mila
Arlo and Eliza
Arlo and Alice
Arlo and Phoebe

PenelopeClearwaterHalfblood · 28/03/2024 14:18

How about Leia?

SallyWD · 28/03/2024 14:32

Leila Maeve is really gorgeous.

I also love Ida. It's feminine yet strong and underused.

Twazique · 28/03/2024 14:41

Adah Louisa

Ada May

Adaline/Adeline

miniaturepixieonacid · 28/03/2024 17:58

Mayda Josie?
Josephine Mayda?

I teach a Leela. Nobody ever says that as anything other than Lee-la, even though there's also a Lyla and a Layla in the year group. So, if you want to avoid all confusion, you could spell it like that?

The majority of the Chinese/HK children I know have very clearly Chinese names but those that don't are called:
Milly, Lily, Mei and Keira.

MissScarletInTheBallroom · 28/03/2024 18:04

What about Mae, with a longer middle name?

mathanxiety · 28/03/2024 18:41

I don't like Mayda, Jade, Josie, or Jodie.
Mayda seems made up.

Not really keen on any of the others. Isla is nice, but it is very popular.

I agree with PPs that you could use Leela, with that spelling. It would go nicely with Arlo.
Leela Maeve would be lovely.

Suggestions:

Nina
Zoe
Phoebe
Chloe
Leah
Vita
Anya
Esme

Geebray · 28/03/2024 18:43

Islas are ten a penny around here. That may not bother you though.

I have never understood why first names have to "go" with middle names. When's the last time that was important for you, as an adult?

mydamnfootstuckinthedoor · 28/03/2024 19:14

Isla Maeve : very "white" (you said it first!!)
Mayda : what about Mayda -Lou? Fits in with Lucy, but not quite the same.
Leila Maeve : beautiful! If the spelling confuses people, just change it- Leela Maeve.

KayEmAy · 28/03/2024 19:25

First, congratulations! Second, thanks for all the detail!

My favorite on your list is Mayda, I've never heard it before but I love it! I think it's equal parts strong and pretty and also falls in that wonderful but difficult to find cross section of being unique but not "out there" and still easy to spell.

Mn ideas you may like:

Mayda Lily
Mayda Juliet
Mayda Eve
Mayda Lauren
Mayda Reese

Other ideas based on your list:

Kira Maeve
Maeve Aria
Annika Jade
Demi Isla
Thea Violet
Leia Ren
Malia Josie
Eden Leila
Veda/Vada Renee
Adrienne Mayda
Elle Mayda
Naomi Luna

NoCloudsAllowed · 28/03/2024 19:31

Mayda will be misheard as Ada. And looks a bit like Mazda!

I know a Lyla and Nyla, any good?

mathanxiety · 28/03/2024 19:41

mydamnfootstuckinthedoor · 28/03/2024 19:14

Isla Maeve : very "white" (you said it first!!)
Mayda : what about Mayda -Lou? Fits in with Lucy, but not quite the same.
Leila Maeve : beautiful! If the spelling confuses people, just change it- Leela Maeve.

Mayda-Lou rhymes with made a poo.

I'd avoid Mayda.

FrancisSeaton · 28/03/2024 19:42

Too white? 🤔

PurpleChrayn · 28/03/2024 19:45

Be careful using Mayda if your surname is something that someone could be made of!

Bubblesdevire · 28/03/2024 19:45

Apollo365 · 27/03/2024 20:36

Lyra?

Ooh yes this is lovely

or Luna?
Luna May
Lyra Mai
Luna May Ross

MerryChristmasToYou · 28/03/2024 19:47

Lyra Ross is too many Rs

PrincessOfPreschool · 28/03/2024 19:52

PickledScrump · 27/03/2024 17:29

If you want lee-luh then spell it leela. Other spellings will get lie-la or lay-la.

Leila is quite an old name (my great grandmother was called this). And always pronounced 'Leela' to my knowledge.

DO NOT spell it Lila (Lie-la) or Leela.

PickledScrump · 28/03/2024 20:04

PrincessOfPreschool · 28/03/2024 19:52

Leila is quite an old name (my great grandmother was called this). And always pronounced 'Leela' to my knowledge.

DO NOT spell it Lila (Lie-la) or Leela.

Leila is very commonly pronounced as Lay-la, Ive never met one who says it lee-la. A Lei would be said as lay, also rhyming are mei and hei so it makes more sense to most people.

Leela is a perfectly acceptable spelling and eliminates ambiguity.

TwoTimeDaddyo · 28/03/2024 20:40

Hello again guys, first of all thank you all for your great replies, it's amazing to have so much feedback and varied opinion!
I'm new to the site but I'm hoping this post is going to tag to my first and work as an update. (If not can some kind soul point me in the right direction?)

Anyway, very interesting to see the split in opinion over Mayda. I came across the name a long time ago on a list of old English girl names, and used it for a character in a story I was writing. It means maiden and I've always kind of thought of it as a natural successor to names like Frida and Freya. That said, it's more a name I like rather than my gf, and so we're going to scrap it. Same too with Isla (she likes but not so much me).

This brings me to the point, and I final cheeky question for you if you would be so kind:
Like I said, we both really like Leila ("lee-luh"), but dislike the common mispronunciation. We also dislike the look of Leela as an alternative...
But how about Leala? Would you guys say "lee-luh" or "lay-luh" for this spelling?

Thanks a lot everyone, we really appreciate all the interest and input!

Ps. I would have asked this as another poll, but I think the site doesn't like me doing two on one post.

OP posts:
MerryChristmasToYou · 28/03/2024 20:43

But how about Leala? Would you guys say "lee-luh" or "lay-luh" for this spelling?
Lee-a(r)la

I only know one Leila and she's 'leela'

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